17 The artifact holders
Connor sat in his office and wrote letters. He called for troops from the big houses, he called out for artifact holders, and he sent letters for provisions for the coming war. The room was smaller compared to the one in his mansion. An open window to his left let light inside. Bookshelves loomed near the door, which was on the left. His desk was on the far end of the room. He dipped his pen in ink and wrote letters left and right.
A hawk came in through the open window, flapping its wings. Connor folded a letter, stamped it and tied it to the bird's leg. It cocked its head, flew from the desk to the window rail and from there it took to the skies.
More birds came in and Connor wrote letters and tied them to their legs. They flew, going to the places where the letters were meant to reach. In the summer sky, they split off and went to places.
One bird perched atop a horse in a stable. A man was standing nearby whispering to another horse.
The man's hair was moss green. He wore a leather jacket over his white shirt. His eyes shone like green glass while he was near the horses. An emerald jewelled necklace shined on his neck.
"Ealhstan, a bird came in." A man called out looking over at the man.
Ealhstan came over, scratched the bird below its belly and took the letter. He broke open the seal, unfolded the letter and started reading. His face turned.
"A call for war," he thought. He folded the letter, placed it in his pocket, took the bird in his hand and let it fly away, and finally, went to prepare.
Another bird perched on a bench. Weights of varying sizes were scattered around. A man was lifting a boulder the size of an ox above his head. His chest and legs were bare and his eyes and hair glimmered red. His muscles were large as boulders and he towered over normal humans.
The man saw the bird, dropped the stone with a bang and came over. He pulled the letter off and broke away the seal. He unfolded the letter quickly and started reading.
"It's about time," he grinned.
A verdict was going on another place. The case was being presented to a man of an average build. He had a thin beard of blue. He listened to the say of both sides, nodding. A bird came and sat over the man's side. The man took the letter slowly, unfolded and started reading. His mind calculating.
"What is it, Blake?" A woman standing next to him asked worrying.
"A call for war," Blake whispered, his blue eyes facing down.
In a hospital, a man was tending to a wounded patient. He had a golden vase on his hands and from it, he took some ointment.
"Sir Haywood, the man in the last bed is vomiting." A nurse cried out.
As he was checking on the patient, a bird came in and sat on the bed's rail. He saw the seal of the king and took the letter softly. He broke the seal and read the letter.
"Bad times are getting worse." He whispered biting into his lips.
In the castle, people were getting ready for the war. A white-haired man was boasting to the court.
"If only I had a good chariot driver, I could have killed all the destitute with my bare hands." The man laughed out loud.
"He is only able to say things like these because he is the king's niece, right?" The courtiers whispered.
"I can be your charioteer." Came out a voice.
Everyone, including the King, looked to see where the voice came from.
There stood a voluptuous woman. Her hair and eyes were crimson and she wore a dress showing off her curves. Her eyes blinked rapidly as she spoke.
"A war is not a place for a dance teacher." The man snickered.
"I know not only the art of dance but also the art of driving a chariot." The woman said proudly.
The King was tired of his niece's boasting and frankly wanted to teach him a lesson in humility.
"You said yourself that you will go to battle if you had a charioteer, John." The King said.
John was frightened. Behind all that boasting, he was just a scared man-child who sought attention. He tried getting off, but couldn't. Breaking the word now meant he was afraid, and he hated showing his fear to the court.
"I... I will do it." John squeezed the words out.
"Thank you my grace. I will need some time to get ready. Get a chariot and be ready by noon." The woman said looking at John. She went behind the castle. A small lake flowed near an oak tree. The woman went and put her hands inside the hole in the oak.
She took out a golden bow engraved with the eagle and golden quiver. She wore the quiver over her shoulder, took the bow in his left hand and went to the chariot that was waiting.
John was scared and hurdled to a ball when the woman came. "Nothing will happen to you my grace." The woman said consoling John.
"What do you know about war? You and I both will die, but you will get the worst of it." John screamed in anger.
"I know about a war or two myself your grace." The woman said climbing the chariot.
She rode the chariot crossing the capital town and The town of parting. It was then John noticed something.
The woman was glowing.
Her breasts turned to muscle. Her slender arms turned to hunks of steel. Her beautiful face turned chiselled and sporting a moustache. Her dress changed to red armour.
The woman had turned into a man and a strong one at that.
"Radcliffe Welite?!" John gasped.
The man nodded in assurance. A minute ago John was hurdled into a ball. But now he brimmed with confidence.
He had gained the strongest charioteer, the strongest bowman there was.
